Rhian Brewster

[Weasel]

This 23 million , is that including add ons for staying up , so many goals etc ?

Yes, but not sure exactly how it is structured. CW actually pulled up a Radio Sheffield presenter a while back about the fee for Brewster and Wilder was quite clear that the fee was £20m up front with various add ons if triggered, which could potentially take it to £23m all in. He didn't actually say what those triggers were, but he did imply they were performance /appearance related.

I would expect our manager to know what the real fee was.

 

[andy m]

Interesting.

I think his first touch is often poor and his movement has been static. Burke had to do thr job of two today as he never showed for the ball, never came short to receive or looked to run beyond.

The 2nd half Burke did well to cross into a good area and he just stood there.

He does not seem to run into the right areas and his work ethic is not where it needs to be in a team that wont have a lot if the ball. People tell me he is a goalscorer not a link player but ges not bloody scored a goal neither does he look like scoring so surely he has to do more in the basics first. I can cope with no goals if he contributes (see McGoldrick last season).

He may well go on and do well but I can only think people are basing this on YouTube Swansea clips.

For United which us what we should judge him on, he has been massively disappointing.

I am quite surprised people are quite convinced he will be a really good player based on the evidence so far. I think a lot of people seem to be using the struggling side / limited chances which are considerations but basics like touch, link play, movement, hold up, running off the ball and defensive closing down he is miles off.

I'd put him in 6th in the pecking order of the strikers we have. Mousse is a bit of a joke now with his inability to stay fit but is more of a threat than him.

I will probably get panned for above but calling it on what I have seen so far and to say I have been unimpressed is an understatement.

As I say he may go and do really well but looks miles off at this stage. Think many just automatically assume he's going to suddenly improve in a lower level. We will see. Really hope I am wrong but even next August I'd have McGoldrick, McBurnie, Burke and Sharp ahead of him.

Not like you to be negative

 

[Northernsoulblade]

Unfortunately the lad looks like a fish out of water an expensive fish hope he Can come good

 

[Fifaking]

Unfortunately the lad looks like a fish out of water an expensive fish hope he Can come good

I hope he does too pal

 

[PokerBlade]

He's not shite, just not worth anywhere near 23mill. Not his fault, it's just the way the premier league works especially with strikers. A lot of premier league teams can afford to gamble on potential, we're not in that league so we shouldn't have gone near him at that price.

Seems like that's exactly what we've had to do. There's been several players that we could've afforded the lump sum for but either haven't wanted or been able to touch other clubs for wages offered. Brewster is in the same category as Berge for me. We could have two real quality players on our hands here but unfortunately we've got into a position where we need them now, not in a season or so.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Seems like that's exactly what we've had to do. There's been several players that we could've afforded the lump sum for but either haven't wanted or been able to touch other clubs for wages offered. Brewster is in the same category as Berge for me. We could have two real quality players on our hands here but unfortunately we've got into a position where we need them now, not in a season or so.

Berge I agree with.

What has Brewster shown to deserve that tag?

 

[PokerBlade]

Berge I agree with.

What has Brewster shown to deserve that tag?

Not a fat lot, to be fair. On the other hand, we've been that bad with the ball in most of the games he's featured that there isn't a whole lot to judge him on right now. But taking into account the performances that led to us bringing him in, and some neat touches and a couple of nice shots here and there, I'm more than willing to believe there's a player there. If you're asking me if I think he's good enough right now based on performances for us so far, then I don't, but then I also think we look like a worse team when Berge plays.

 

[shrubbery]

Huge disappointment for me. Has shown only very brief glimpses of any potential and spends the huge majority of his time on the pitch offering basically nothing to the team. He doesn’t hold it up, doesn’t really show for the ball, doesn’t make intelligent runs, doesn’t have great pace or a great finish. Burke has offered considerably more.

 

[Deadbat]

Not like you to be negative

Honest actually. My opinion with points to back it up.

Tell me what you disagree with. Offer a response with discussion maybe? No problems with contrary views. Not saying I am right or others are but thats the point of a forum.

Classic example of playing the poster rather than the post.

 

[cooperblade]

I think it's really hard to assess a striker's workrate from watching on TV. You can't see enough of the pitch to know if they're making off the ball runs or not.

Hopefully people will be open minded enough to be willing to change their opinions but the evidence of away games last season tells me that some of our fans stick to their thoughts on a player no matter what.

Brewster might join Kazim-Richards, Adams, Robinson and Mousset in the lazy / attitude problem / don't like how or what he drives club.

That's a shame and it's disappointing that people are ignoring Wilder when he says we shouldn't make instant decisions on players, particularly young ones.

 

[BobblesBlade]

I’ll always say it. You keep buying British players you pay a premium. Scour Europe and you can get some great players a fraction of the price.
Hope we learn from this.

 

[Bladesince59]

Seen zero, rien, zilch to suggest we have a decent player in there, UTB

 

[pommpey]

Honest actually. My opinion with points to back it up.

Tell me what you disagree with. Offer a response with discussion maybe? No problems with contrary views. Not saying I am right or others are but thats the point of a forum.

Classic example of playing the poster rather than the post.

The good old, 'I'm pissed off you've said something I disagree with, so I'll attack you rather than what you have said' chestnut.

Glad it's not just me, Deadbat.

pommpey

 

[ancientblade]

Interesting.

I think his first touch is often poor and his movement has been static. Burke had to do thr job of two today as he never showed for the ball, never came short to receive or looked to run beyond.

The 2nd half Burke did well to cross into a good area and he just stood there.

He does not seem to run into the right areas and his work ethic is not where it needs to be in a team that wont have a lot if the ball. People tell me he is a goalscorer not a link player but ges not bloody scored a goal neither does he look like scoring so surely he has to do more in the basics first. I can cope with no goals if he contributes (see McGoldrick last season).

He may well go on and do well but I can only think people are basing this on YouTube Swansea clips.

For United which us what we should judge him on, he has been massively disappointing.

I am quite surprised people are quite convinced he will be a really good player based on the evidence so far. I think a lot of people seem to be using the struggling side / limited chances which are considerations but basics like touch, link play, movement, hold up, running off the ball and defensive closing down he is miles off.

I'd put him in 6th in the pecking order of the strikers we have. Mousse is a bit of a joke now with his inability to stay fit but is more of a threat than him.

I will probably get panned for above but calling it on what I have seen so far and to say I have been unimpressed is an understatement.

As I say he may go and do really well but looks miles off at this stage. Think many just automatically assume he's going to suddenly improve in a lower level. We will see. Really hope I am wrong but even next August I'd have McGoldrick, McBurnie, Burke and Sharp ahead of him.

massive difference between the premier league and championship though give the lad a chance im confident he will get 20 - 25 goals next season

 

[Deadbat]

massive difference between the premier league and championship though give the lad a chance im confident he will get 20 - 25 goals next season

Why do you think that? What have you seen for US that makes you confident of such an upswing from 0 to 25 albeit at a lower level. Swansea play a completely different way to us.

Hope you are right by the way.

 

[Deadbat]

I think it's really hard to assess a striker's workrate from watching on TV. You can't see enough of the pitch to know if they're making off the ball runs or not.

Hopefully people will be open minded enough to be willing to change their opinions but the evidence of away games last season tells me that some of our fans stick to their thoughts on a player no matter what.

Brewster might join Kazim-Richards, Adams, Robinson and Mousset in the lazy / attitude problem / don't like how or what he drives club.

That's a shame and it's disappointing that people are ignoring Wilder when he says we shouldn't make instant decisions on players, particularly young ones.

I am not sure it is necessarily instant decisions though. None of us have any idea how he may pan out and he may come good but I am not sure it is that controversial to say we all expected more...young or not.

People are going to assess him and others. That is football. I've not said he is terrible. Just that he has offered very little and I have been underwhelmed at what I have seen so far. Fans will give opinions and I think players and even Wilder surely is not so naive to think our record signing who has in effect done very little since we signed him will not get questioned. Fans are not going to just say 'I'm not going to assess or criticise a player because he is young'

With players who cost 20 million (yes I know it's not a lot a lot I suppose in EPL terms) you normally expect basics of touch, control and work ethic/running to be of a decent level. They are the things I have been quite shocked about far more than him not scoring. I think that female pundit alluded to it the other week about being shocked at his effort. I sadly have same concerns. We need him to put a shift in at least. I don't buy the 'he's not that type of player' argument here either. Surely running around and closing down/chasing is as Wilder says him self 'a given you expect'

 

[cooperblade]

Why do you think that? What have you seen for US that makes you confident of such an upswing from 0 to 25 albeit at a lower level. Swansea play a completely different way to us.

Hope you are right by the way.

I assume that if we go down, we'll return to a more attacking 3-4-1-2 so he'll be in a slightly different set up.

He scored 1 in 2 in a Swansea side that scored fewer goals than we did last time we were in the Championship.

Obviously loads of stuff we don't know but don't think it's unreasonable to think he'd get 20+.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

If he gets a game against WBA he will have the opportunity to showcase his ability or lack of it,i mean WBA are on a par with us and will be back in the Championship next season,surely he wont fluff this chance to impress the fans and show us what to expect next season,but then it will come back to......will the midfield supply him the ammo.

 

[Drunk blade]

Huge disappointment for me. Has shown only very brief glimpses of any potential and spends the huge majority of his time on the pitch offering basically nothing to the team. He doesn’t hold it up, doesn’t really show for the ball, doesn’t make intelligent runs, doesn’t have great pace or a great finish. Burke has offered considerably more.

This sums him up perfectly he just doesn't do anything well, I watched him yesterday and his movement was non existent. Not sure whether he's lazy or doesn't know what runs to make or both but the players should have a whip round and buy him a deck chair for the games.

Whatever wilders says now, he was clearly bought with the intention of getting the goals to keep us up yet he's currently the worst striker we have.

 

[cooperblade]

I am not sure it is necessarily instant decisions though. None of us have any idea how he may pan out and he may come good but I am not sure it is that controversial to say we all expected more...young or not.

People are going to assess him and others. That is football. I've not said he is terrible. Just that he has offered very little and I have been underwhelmed at what I have seen so far. Fans will give opinions and I think players and even Wilder surely is not so naive to think our record signing who has in effect done very little since we signed him will not get questioned. Fans are not going to just say 'I'm not going to assess or criticise a player because he is young'

With players who cost 20 million (yes I know it's not a lot a lot I suppose in EPL terms) you normally expect basics of touch, control and work ethic/running to be of a decent level. They are the things I have been quite shocked about far more than him not scoring. I think that female pundit alluded to it the other week about being shocked at his effort. I sadly have same concerns. We need him to put a shift in at least. I don't buy the 'he's not that type of player' argument here either. Surely running around and closing down/chasing is as Wilder says him self 'a given you expect'

Absolutely agree that fans will have an opinion straight away. No problem with that. I just wish it was a little less black and white (there's often zero context or nuance) and I will never, ever understand why it gets so nasty and personal about our own players (someone in shoutbox calling Brewster a "lazy cunt" for example).

The abuse Callum Robinson got at West Ham last season was absolutely disgusting. It actually spoilt a great day a bit.

Re: Brewster's workrate - as I've said it's hard to judge on TV but would he have made it to the fringe of the Liverpool team if he was lazy? Maybe he's adjusting to the change of playing in sides who always have the ball to one that doesn't? It's a different game in terms of when to conserve energy, when to work, we might have different pressing triggers etc. It's early and he's young and learning.

From the little I've seen, I've been impressed with his eye for a pass and think he's been inconsistent in all other aspects. From the information we do have (his record in the Championship), I think he could do really well next season.

With hindsight, I think it was maybe a mistake to start him v Liverpool, City and Chelsea so soon after arriving. He was on a bit of a hiding to nothing and it meant he had very little chance of getting off to a flyer.

 

[Harry's Game]

I have said this already but next season I would send him out on loan to one of the leading sides in League one until at least January. If he scores regularly there it could do wonders for his confidence and then bring him back to us in January hopefully for a promotion run in. If he struggles to Make any impact at League one level we may have to accept that we have been sold a pup.

 

[ancientblade]

Why do you think that? What have you seen for US that makes you confident of such an upswing from 0 to 25 albeit at a lower level. Swansea play a completely different way to us.

Hope you are right by the way.

well for one thing we usually average about 30% possesion which doesnt help next season in the championship we will be back up to 60% and that will help him plus as someone has said surely we will be playing 3412 again i also would not send him out on loan as another poster has suggested he will get the goals back playing at a lower level

 

[FTPE]

There's aspects about football matches that you can only learn.. by playing football matches.

His movement, awareness, pressing etc isn't perfect but that will come in time.

 

[pommpey]

I'm inclined to agree with Deadbat.

Brewster is a kid. We have taken a giant gamble on him adapting quickly to the pace and pressure of Premier League football and so far he has struggled badly. The space and opportunity he had with Swansea in the league below is reduced by as much as a factor of 75% and for him to score hat he did with Swansea, he needs an output and guile factor of 75% more. Compare Aguero, Ings, DCL, Son Hueng Min with Brewster. They have worked it out. Where Deadbat is coming from is that 'he shows one of that' and I agree, and he also shows no sign of potential for that ... so far. Quite how long is for the footballing gods but one thing is for certain, all of the above mentioned relay on some outstanding supply lines. Aguero has the Man City midfield to feed him: DCL is an opportunities who feeds off the chances carved out by patient pressure; Son has a fantastic partnership with Harry Kane; Ings relies on the craft of three or four individuals who read his positioning and runs really, really well. Where does Brewster fit in the United side? We have a midfield - admittedly who have played some middle-decent defensive games recently - but who spend vast amounts of time being passed around and who don't create the openings for him. The wingbacks supplies into the box, if and when they happen, are pretty poor and unthreatening, and Brewster himself lacks the physicality, vision and bite that several seasons playing at all levels gave Billy Sharp.

We can speculate if 'it will happen' for Ryan Brewster, and if anything this is the pivotal statement which hinges on CWs shaking of the £23m dice. I can't see him getting more than two goals this season, which is shockingly poor return for such an investment. It all hinges on next season in the Championship and his workrate and ability to learn. So far, I have seen little to suggest his rather mardy and immature outward attitude toward getting his sleeves up and getting stuck in will change, but hope springs eternal. I'd hate to thing that in ten seasons we learn of Rhian Brewster pushing thirty eking his living for Telford United or Blyth Spartans having been offloaded in a sries of ever decreasing 'piece of hot shit'/'we can't do anything with him' rugby passes down the footballing pyramid, like Ravel Morrison, for example.

He needs a goal or two. It's up to him to make the runs and the effort and it's up to who he's playing with to find him.

pommpey

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

Underwhelming first phase of his Utd Career.

Let’s hope all the prophets predicting better things from the lad going forward turn out to be right .

Meantime we have a here and now problem. A big un !!

UTB

Ched had a similar underwhelming start but came good ............... then didn’t! Let’s hope young Rhian can at least avoid that fate

 

[CopenhagenBlade]

I am not sure it is necessarily instant decisions though. None of us have any idea how he may pan out and he may come good but I am not sure it is that controversial to say we all expected more...young or not.

People are going to assess him and others. That is football. I've not said he is terrible. Just that he has offered very little and I have been underwhelmed at what I have seen so far. Fans will give opinions and I think players and even Wilder surely is not so naive to think our record signing who has in effect done very little since we signed him will not get questioned. Fans are not going to just say 'I'm not going to assess or criticise a player because he is young'

With players who cost 20 million (yes I know it's not a lot a lot I suppose in EPL terms) you normally expect basics of touch, control and work ethic/running to be of a decent level. They are the things I have been quite shocked about far more than him not scoring. I think that female pundit alluded to it the other week about being shocked at his effort. I sadly have same concerns. We need him to put a shift in at least. I don't buy the 'he's not that type of player' argument here either. Surely running around and closing down/chasing is as Wilder says him self 'a given you expect'

The one thing that I disagree with is that every time you mention him, you say what a terrible first touch he has. I think that he has an excellent first touch 90% of the time. He has good vision too.
I am a fan and I think that he will come good. He has been a bit unfortunate, coming into the side, when we were terrible and playing against the top sides and he possibly got disillusioned. He has then been in and out of the side as Wilder chops and changes his strikers on a weekly basis. He needs a goal

 

[BanderSerge]

I have said this already but next season I would send him out on loan to one of the leading sides in League one until at least January. If he scores regularly there it could do wonders for his confidence and then bring him back to us in January hopefully for a promotion run in. If he struggles to Make any impact at League one level we may have to accept that we have been sold a pup.

Scored 11/22 in the championship last season, but you want to loan him to a league one club? God give me strength!

 

[ancientblade]

Scored 11/22 in the championship last season, but you want to loan him to a league one club? God give me strength!

exactly as if we would send a 23m signing on loan to a league 1 club he will have more chances created for him next season and wont be playing against international centre backs every week

 

[Sportbilly /Detroit Blade]

I’ll always say it. You keep buying British players you pay a premium. Scour Europe and you can get some great players a fraction of the price.
Hope we learn from this.

Don't disagree but seems like we've made a conscious decision to try to, in the main, keep the core of the squad British. Maybe it's because of the perceived British qualities of teamwork, effort etc.

 

[SouthportBlade]

I’ll always say it. You keep buying British players you pay a premium. Scour Europe and you can get some great players a fraction of the price.
Hope we learn from this.

Whilst I completely agree with the principle of signing players from the continent, it's an area we should be looking to improve and develop. However in practice it's just not as simple, or easy as that in the short term. It's also not a guarantee of success as there are just as many flops as success stories.

We all know our limitations on the wage front (from the legacy of the dire tenure in League 1 and rapid rise of CWAK era) , and this is seen in the rest of our infrastructure. Extending to training facilities (remedied that this, at a cost), backroom staff and also scouting networks etc.

We are competing against other clubs, with more money, more scouts, bigger and more established networks and more local knowledge. Even after identify a player we are still likely competing against clubs with deeper pockets for wages!

Don't get me wrong, it's really an area we need to improve and an excellent scouting network can be worth it's wait in gold. Just think we need realistic about how feasible it is in the short term.